Furnace humidifier



June 15 1926.

J. P. KOLLA FURNACE HUMIDIFLER I [nuenov Joh R KoHo.

June 15 192,6.

J. P. KOLLA FURNACE HUMIDIFIER Filed Feb. 24' 1925 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 Inuanor n John?. Kulm.

Patented J une 15, 1926.

UNITED stares PATENT OFFICE.`

-. KOLLA, GF EIGLLAND, MICHXGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HOLLAND FURNACE CGM- PANY, GF HOLLAND, lfICl-EIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MCI-IIGAN.

FURNACE HMDIFIER.

Application filed February This invention relates to a humidifier construction primarily adapted for use with hot ir furnaces. lt is designed that the usual water pan used with furnaces of this character shallbe eliminated, and the water which is to supply moisture to the heated air going from the furnace shall be furnished in a predetermined quantity to the humidifier construction all, or the greater portion, of the water being evaporated in such construction, while any excess over what is evaporated may be carried through an overflow to the outside of the furnace in one form of my invention, or to the ash pit where itis absorbed by the ashes in another form thereof.

It is an object and purpose of the present invention to construct a humidifier which may be made, preferably, as an integral part of the fire pot casting, this resulting in economy in manufacture as the cost of production is increased very little and only to the extent of the added material which is required. A further object of the invention is to provide a humidifier construction which does not obstruct the air space within the outer enclosing casing of the furnace so that the circulation of air is not interfered with in any manner. fr still further object of the invention is to construct a humidifier with which a greatly increased quantity of water may be vaporized and delivered to the heated air, the principle of the humidifier in this invention being much more effective for evaporation of water by reason of the large surface of water presented from which the water vapor may arise, coupled with the elimination of a large volume or body of Water with a relatively small evaporating surface such as is common with water pans. Many other objects and purposes of the invention together with novel constructions and arrangements of parts for attaining the same will appear fully and in det-ail as understanding of the invention is had from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. l is a fragmentary vertical section through the outer casing of the lower part of a hot air furnace, the inner heating construction being shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the construction shown in l.

24, 1925. serial No. 11,026.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section substantially on the plane of line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. d is a view similar to that shown in Fig. l, with parts of the inner construction broken away and shown in section, illustrating a different form of construction embodying my invention, and

F ig. 5 is a horizontal section therethrough.

Like referencecharacters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawings.

The furnace in its construction includes a lower ash pit casting l, above which the fire pot casting 2 is located and supported. Above the lire pot the various other sections of the inner structure of the furnace are located including the combustion chamber dome, a portion of which appears in figs. l and e'. The ash pit casting, at its front side, is formed with forwardly extending substantially vertical sides 3 which are integrally connected at their upper edges by a cross member or top 4, preferably inclining downwardly and inwardly as indicated in F ig. el. The casing surrounding the ash pit, fire pot and other heat radiating structure includes a front plate 5 of cast metal and a substantially cylindrical sheet metal enclosing casing (5 to which the plate 5 connected. The plate 5 is utilized for the mounting of the various doors closing the entrance to the lire pot and ash. pit, the ash pit door being shown at T.

In the form of construction shown in Figs, l and 2 a water receiving and holding trough is cast integral with the ash pit casting. This trough includes a bottom S and a substantially vertical side 9 cast integral with one side 3 of the forward projection to the ash pit, the same being integrally continued around the ash pit and substantially to the other side 3 of said forward projection, the bottom 8EL and the vertical side 9a of the trough around the cylindrical portion of the ash pit being continuations with the bottom 8 and side 9 integral with the side 3. Preferably this trough inclines downwardly around the ash pit, being substantially of spiral form as best shown in Fig. l. At its lower end the trough is closed by a vertical end 10. An openingll may be made through the ash pit casting so that water delivered to the trough which is not lOl) evaporatedv in; its progress down the trough and which collects at the lower end thereof to the level of the opening 11, is drained therethrough-into thev ash pit and is alosorbed in thedry.asheswithin said ash pit.

A. spout 12 extends through the plate 5, its inner end being directly over the upper-end..

of the trough and its outer end being' outside of the furnace casing'. Tater-- is* delivered to this spout from a pipe 13, the amount thereof being controlled by a manually operated valve 14:. The supply of.-

tothe trough is .evaporated by reason ofthe heat. and the fact .th'atit is spreadout over a wide area. The trough is heated by reason ofits connection -to 'the ash pit casting-and it also receives heat directly: radiated from the re pot above. During the daytime when the tire Within the furnace is at zgreatest intensity all ofthe Water delivered to the trough is evaporated; At nighty when the ire is checked',' the heat for evaporation is lessenedand the surplus water runs to the lower end ofl the trough' and eventually, when it reaches thelevelofopeningV 11, is drainedinto the ash pit and absorbed by the ashes.- 'lhisis` a. feature of advantage in thatdust in the ashes is eliminated' and theI air goingto, the lire through the ash pitis more or less changedinto Water vapor, this bein-gf. a, wellfknoxvn advantageous feature. in burningvfuels suchas are usedin furnaces, aidi1igin-tlie combustion vofthe fuel.

In Figs-.4i and, 5. a.` somewhat vvdifferent form of construction embodying the ,inventiOnisShOWn.. (inthe top` Ll. of.v the forward projection ofy the .ashfpitf` a\vater holding receptacle is made 'by casting? upwardlyy extendingside, ribs lintegral'with the top .4l and also curved `and spaced apart' cross ribs land 17 Whichconnect ,tht-)outerandfinner ends vofthe .vertical .-ribsfl, as best shown in V Eig, The.Water.isfdelivered.fronra pipe 1S to.. the freceptaclefthufs., made, andA the aniountfiscontrolled by ainanually operated valvelE-l. interppsedin the pipe-'183 Vvlater in..,theshallow\receptacle thus `rnade is sub.- jectedlto-lieat from the tire potand a large pprtion thereofevaporated.' What is.` not eyaperatedj. collects in. the. receptacley and eventually mayl lilith'e receptacle'to apre determined level at which it is designed to overflow to an auxiliaryhuinidier consti-uc tion similar in many respects to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Baci; of the rear vertical cross ri 1T a shallow' trough 2Ov is made in the top il of the forward projection of thel ash pit. This trouglisis extended beyond the sides of the ufater receivingny receptacle and around the ash pit .at the upper edges thereof, a vertical side 21 for the trough being continued from thefrib 17 entirely around theash pit. The trough after it-leaves the forward projectingfpcrtion of the ash pit is deepened and has a bottoni 22 which islocated ata level lov-Jer thanithe bottom ofthe trough rib 17 to ther-trough.v 20 froInwvhic-lrit. During.

carried varound the-ash pit casting. the I Vtime that the heatgiven off by*` the. fur.- nace is abated, .excess Water collects. in. the

deeper portions of the trough andwhenit' hasreached a--certain'level mayv bez carried outiv rdly` through an'overfiorv drain pipe .let extending frointheI side 21vofvthetrough.

through thecasing 6, asshoivn in With both ofthese. construct-ions aheavy evaporationofr Water Wit-hin the furnace iasinganay be hadandivithan insurance that: water is supplied atl ally times for lnu'nid-i-fyingthe heated air delivered frein the furnaceouter casing. Both forms of constructions' shown. are made Y'by nierely casting-additions on to the. ash pit casting ivithlittle or no increase in cost of .production. rtl-large evaporat-ing area for Water is provided.' The Water is in close: proxiinity tov the fire pot. which is ordinarily the hottest element in the. entire furnace construction, insuring heavy evaporationf Proper:lnnnidifyingof the air frointhefurnace is thus-attained and insured.v lntlie forni of construction shown iny Figs. 1 and 2, the excess of Water over what is evaporated is carried into the ash pit and InoistensA the ashes with the resultant advantagesfcoming therefrom,- above described. The constructions'are teryxpractical,Vv economical to manufa fture and in every way a. great` improvenient over the old! andf well-'known Water pan system of furnaceY humidiifyi'lrg: The invention is defined lin the appended .claims and is `to he considered" as comprehensive `of all forms ofstructnre coming Within. their scope.

I claim:

1. ln a furnace, an"Y ash' p-itv casting of substantial ly cylindrical form -:having aipro;- jecting portion attheefront'iside thereof, said projecting portionfha ving*verticalsidesland a top connecting the sides, ribs cast integral with said top and extending upwardly therefroin to form a receptacle in which Water may be contained, and a trough around the ash pit adjacent the upper end thereof into which Water overflowing troni the receptacle is received, substantially as described.

2. A construction containingr the elements in combination defined in claim 1 combined with means for continuously supplying e predetermined ainount of Water to said receptacle, substantially as described.

3. A construction containing the elements in combination deiined in claim l combined With means tor continuously supplying Water to the receptacle, and a drainage opening formed in the trough above the bottom thereot through which excess of Water may be drained from the trough when it reaches the level of said opening7 substantially as described.

4. ln a. furnace, an ash pit casting et' substantially cylindrical 'forni but tapering inwardly troirL its lower end toward its upper end, e trough east integral with the sh pit cast-ing; at. the upQer end thereof, said trough comprising zi bottom extending` outwardly from the ash pit it'or a short distance and a Vertical side spaced fromthe ash pit. said vertical side being located substantially Within a vertical projection of the lower end ot said ash pit, and inea s tor supglying; waiter to seid trough` substantially as described.

In testimony WluareotL l affix my signature.

JOHN P. YQLLA.. 

